Dados do Trabalho

Título

Epidemiological study of rabies in dogs and cats from Pernambuco, Brazil

Introdução

Rabies is a lethal zoonosis that affects mammals and impacts public health worldwide.

Objetivo(s)

This work aimed to conduct an epidemiological study of Rabies in the state of Pernambuco from 2017 to 2021, and to establish a health education program at the Veterinary Hospital (HOVET) of the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco (UFRPE).

Material e Métodos

Using data provided by the State Department of Health we were able to analyze the impact of Rabies in the State of Pernambuco, and in addition, a health education program was implemented at the Veterinary Hospital of UFRPE to guide and evaluate the perception of guardians about the disease, using questionnaire after the ethical committee authorization.

Resultados e Conclusão

Data from 2017 to 2021 show the occurrence of Rabies in several mammalian species. Between 2017 and 2021, there were 9 reports, with 6 dogs and 3 cats in Pernambuco, among these 1 positive cat in the capital city of Recife in 2017, the same case that generated a positive human rabies case. In 2021 was observed the highest rate with 2 positive cats and 3 positive dogs in Pernambuco, probably due to a lower vaccination range during the pandemics. The survey conducted at HOVET, 32 questionnaires were applied with guardians where 100% (32/32) knew about the disease and considered it important to protect their animals against infectious diseases. Most of the interviewees had more than 2 animals that were rescued from the streets. From the answers we highlight that among the interviewees 78.12% (25/32) had a vaccination protocol, where 53.12% (17/32) vaccinated for rabies and 34.37% (11/32) vaccinated both for rabies and other virus diseases, and 12.5% (4/32) did not receive any type of vaccine. Regarding where the vaccines were taken, more than half of the animals, 56.45% (18/32), received it in Veterinary Clinics, and the rest from other locations. Approximately 81.25% (26/32) had the annual booster and 59.37% (19/32) had it from the Rabies Campaign offered by the municipalities. The results demonstrate the importance of continued health education with the community to ratify the importance of prevention against rabies through animal vaccination.

Palavras-chave

One Health; Pets; Animal Rabies; Epidemiological Surveillance